Lapierre, O’Byrne in; Smolinski, Brisebois out

Maxim Lapierre and Ryan O’Byrne are in for the Canadiens tonight vs. the Boston Bruins, and Bryan Smolinski and Patrice Brisebois are out. Steve Bégin, having nursed a groin injury back to apparent health, and Mathieu Dandenault also will watch from the pressbox. Carey Price is in goal for Montreal.

Hulking Bruins captain Zdeno Chara remains a game-time decision. Sidelined for five games with an upper body injury, the Big Z skated this morning.

(And surely you remember that on this date in 1916, the season before the NHL was founded, the Portland Rosebuds defeated the Canadiens 2-0 in the first game of the Stanley Cup Challenge. Montreal came back to win their first ever Cup, in five games.)